score football magazine
Euro 2008
Austria and Switzerland
Thursday June 19th

Quarter final

Germany power past Portugal

Germany became the first team through to the semi-finals of Euro 2008 when they beat Portugal with a powerful performance in Basel. Portugal came close in the 20th minute when a cross met the knee of Joao Moutinho and flew over the bar from 6 yards out, but 2 minutes later Podolski ran down the left and delivered a low ball which Bastian Schweinsteiger connected with to give Germany the lead. Within 4 minutes Germany doubled their lead when Klose got on the end of a free-kick to head the ball past Ricardo. Lehmann blocked an effort by Ronaldo in the 40th minute but the ball fell to Nuno Gomes who turned the ball in for Portugal. Ronaldo's shot across goal was inches wide of the post in first-half stoppage time. Pepe might have equalised for Portugal in the 57th minutes but headed over the bar from 5 yards. Instead, Ballack ran onto a free-kick 4 minutes later to head in the 3rd for the Germans. Podolski's scorching shot sizzled past the post in the 79th minute, but in the closing stages Portugal pushed forward and Nani found Postiga who gave Portugal hope with a header past Lehmann in the 87th minute. Portugal did not give up, but ran out of time and bowed out of the competition. (Germany 3 Portugal 2)

klose against portugal
Klose scored with header

Go to Euro 2008 index